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  • NASCAR’s Hot 20 of All-Time

    NASCAR’s Hot 20 of All-Time

    The best of the best, a legacy that has given us 70 championships since 1949. 33 individuals have been able to lay claim to the crown. Three men have won it seven times.

    To be a champion immortalizes you, but so does excellent performance. A driver can win, but fail to grab a title. He can also rack up Top Fives and Top Tens, even if he fell a tad short in claiming the checkered flags earned by his competitors.

    A few names might surprise you, at first. Yet, when ranked for most championships, wins, Top Fives, and Top Tens, these are the 20 best NASCAR has had to offer in the driver’s seat over 70 seasons of motor mayhem.

    I bet there is no argument that the King leads the parade.

    1. RICHARD PETTY – Born July 2, 1937
      7 Championships, 200 Wins, 555 Top Fives, 712 Top Tens
    2. JEFF GORDON – Born August 4, 1971
      4 Championships, 93 Wins, 325 Top Tens, 477 Top Tens
    3. DALE EARNHARDT – (April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001)
      7 Championships, 76 Wins, 281 Top Fives, 428 Top Tens
    4. DAVID PEARSON – (December 22, 1934 – November 12, 2018)
      3 Championships, 105 Wins, 301 Top Fives, 366 Top Tens
    5. DARRELL WALTRIP – Born February 5, 1947
      3 Championships, 84 Wins, 276 Top Fives, 390 Top Tens
    6. JIMMIE JOHNSON – Born September 17, 1975
      7 Championships, 83 Wins, 224 Top Fives, 352 Top Tens
    7. BOBBY ALLISON – Born December 3, 1937
      1 Championship, 84 Wins, 336 Top Fives, 446 Top Tens
    8. CALE YARBOROUGH – Born March 27, 1939
      3 Championships, 83 Wins, 255 Top Fives, 319 Top Tens
    9. LEE PETTY – (March 14, 1914 – April 5, 2000)
      3 Championships, 54 Wins, 231 Top Fives, 332 Top Tens
    10. BUCK BAKER – (March 4, 1919 – April 14, 2002)
      2 Championships, 46 Wins, 246 Top Fives, 372 Tens
    11. MARK MARTIN (Born January 9, 1959)
      40 Wins, 271 Top Fives, 453 Top Tens
    12. RUSTY WALLACE – (Born August 14, 1956)
      1 Championship, 55 Wins, 202 Top Fives, 349 Top Tens
    13. TONY STEWART – (Born May 20, 1971)
      3 Championships, 49 Wins, 187 Top Fives, 308 Top Tens
    14. TERRY LABONTE – (Born November 16, 1956)
      2 Championships, 22 Wins, 182 Top Fives, 361 Top Tens
    15. NED JARRETT – (Born October 12, 1932)
      2 Championships, 50 Wins, 185 Top Fives, 239 Top Tens
    16. RICKY RUDD – (Born September 12, 1956)
      23 Wins, 194 Top Fives, 374 Top Tens
    17. KEVIN HARVICK – (Born December 8, 1975)
      1 Championship, 45 Wins, 191 Top Fives, 336 Top Tens
    18. HERB THOMAS – (April 6, 1923 – August 9, 2000)
      2 Championships, 48 Wins, 122 Top Fives, 156 Top Tens
    19. KYLE BUSCH – (Born May 2, 1985)
      1 Championship, 51 Wins, 183 Top Fives, 269 Top Tens
    20. BUDDY BAKER – (January 25, 1941 – August 10, 2015)
      19 Wins, 202 Top Fives, 311 Top Tens

    Three of those boys will be out to add to their accomplishments this weekend. The Daytona 500 is coming up this Sunday, a time for new beginnings and a time for bringing things to an end. After 15 years and over a thousand columns of various incarnations, this edition represents my final regular contribution to this site.

    I want to thank Barry Albert for providing a writing home for me back in 2004. My thanks to Angie Campbell for her editing prowess and her encouragement. I would like to give a shout out to Racing Reference, a website that helps a fellow make sense of it all, a great aid to such scribes as myself. Finally, thanks to you for joining me on this journey.

  • Hot 20 – Back to Darlington, back to a September tradition and the Southern 500

    Hot 20 – Back to Darlington, back to a September tradition and the Southern 500

    Tradition. On Sunday, NASCAR returns to its traditional roots, to the track that was Daytona before Bill France replaced the beach-road course with his 2.5-mile architectural marvel. Before the Daytona 500, the marquee event was held in Darlington.

    The Southern 500 has been on the calendar since 1950, except for a brief period when NASCAR went insane and dug up its roots in the name of a few dollars. On Sunday, the boys will be back to the 1.3-mile circuit of Herb Thomas, Buck Baker, and Fireball Roberts. They made the place famous long before the likes of Jeff Gordon, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, or Bill Elliott made their marks. Maybe I should say, before the Lady in Black left her marks on them.

    Each of our Big Three have won there as has our only active seven-time season champion. A classic race and a top-notch broadcast crew on NBC to keep you glued to the television. It does not get any better than this.

    1. KYLE BUSCH – 6 WINS (1003 Pts)
    His throwback weekend would include a repeat of 2008, except this time in September.

    2. KEVIN HARVICK – 6 WINS (1 E.W. – 960 Pts)
    He won his Southern 500 in 2014…in April.

    3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 4 WINS (849 Pts)
    Won it in 2016 after sanity returned and it once again was the Labor Day Classic.

    4. CLINT BOWYER – 2 WINS (776 Pts)
    His car will have a Ned Jarrett look, who won the 1965 race by a record 14 laps. Fourteen laps!

    5. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN (796 Pts)
    21 attempts, 21 times he has not been invited to the Lady in Black’s post-race boudoir.

    6. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN (768 Pts)
    He will be honoring Pennzoil and Steve Park when they hit the line on Sunday.

    7. CHASE ELLIOTT – 1 WIN (697 Pts)
    Dad won the Southern 500 three times. If the son could win, that would be awesome, eh Bill?

    8. ERIK JONES – 1 WIN (635 Pts)
    He seemed to tame the track in his first outing. Might she be out for revenge this year?

    9. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN (475 Pts)
    After Daytona, Dillon disappeared but he has been making some noise as of late.

    10. RYAN BLANEY – 733 POINTS
    His car will have the same look at his father’s did…when Ryan was nine.

    11. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 730 POINTS
    Driving a hot rod with a paint scheme Rusty Wallace would love…and does.

    12. KYLE LARSON – 729 POINTS
    Remember Davey Allison’s rookie colors of 1988? Larson will remind you what that looked like.

    13. DENNY HAMLIN – 707 POINTS
    Eight years, two Southern 500 wins, a pair of runner-up finishes, and all but once in the Top Six.

    14. ARIC ALMIROLA – 658 POINTS
    Racing the colors that made Danica Patrick a winner. Okay, I’m just being facetious.

    15. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 604 POINTS
    Driving throwback colors of…himself. Did not win a title in 2012…but did win a Southern 500.

    16. ALEX BOWMAN – 572 POINTS
    Not sporting throwback colors. Probably was worried it would distract one of the announcers.

    17. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 493 POINTS
    Nothing runs like a Deere. That is what Ricky is hoping for.

    18. RYAN NEWMAN – 481 POINTS
    Will be looking a lot like the first RCR driver to race the No. 31…Neil Bonnett.

    19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 479 POINTS
    A good throwback scheme would be Jack Roush cars that could compete.

    20. PAUL MENARD – 473 POINTS
    Has to win either at Darlington or Indianapolis, or all he gets is a Participation Trophy.

  • The Final Word – NASCAR truly is a family tradition, as another Busch celebrates

    The Final Word – NASCAR truly is a family tradition, as another Busch celebrates

    Family. We often hear how NASCAR is a family sport, where drivers, their wives, and their kids all share in the experience behind the scenes. The family theme has dominated since the sport’s earliest years. I mean, it starts with the France family, as Bill, Bill, Jr., and now grandson Brian have held the reins of the family operation since the very beginning.

    Family. If you do not know the names of Allison, Baker, Bodine, Earnhardt, Flock, Wallace, Waltrip, and Wood, welcome to NASCAR. You must be a newbie, my friend. Might I suggest that you have some catching up to do.

    In 1954, Lee Petty won his first of three titles, while 10 years later his son Richard claimed his first of seven. Ned Jarrett was champion for the first time in 1961, with his son Dale taking the title in 1999. It was good enough for father-son tandems, so the siblings got into the act. Terry Labonte first claimed the crown in 1984, with brother Bobby taking his in 2000. Then, Kurt Busch, the 2004 king, was joined last Sunday by brother Kyle as the Sprint Cup series champion. That should take the edge off the family Christmas dinner next month.

    Only under this format could Kyle Busch win it all. He missed the first 11 races of the season as he mended a broken leg. In the not so old days, that would have been the end of his hopes. A win gets you in, almost, and he then stormed back to win four to get over one hurdle. Now, all he had to do was be within the Top 30 in points to cash those wins into a post-season berth. Busch then eliminated that barrier with a few races to go before the Chase. In the year he and Samantha extended their family with the birth of son Brexton, Busch won at Homestead to beat out runner-up and defending champ, Kevin Harvick to win it all. Did I mention that along with his wife and son, he was joined in Victory Lane by his parents and even got a post-event hug from brother Kurt?

    Family. That is what means more to Jeff Gordon that a fifth championship. Sure, he would have loved to have finished better than sixth in his last race and third in his last season, but what and who was more important were there for all to see. Ingrid, Ella, and Leo joined such motorsports royalty as Mario Andretti and Lewis Hamilton at center stage to wish farewell to an icon after a career of 797 consecutive starts and 93 victories. Few are able to quit while still at the top of their game. We saw a legend do just that at Miami.

    Family. Gordon is the bridge between Richard Petty, who ended his Cup career the same race Gordon began his, and 19-year old Chase Elliott. The youngster, who began his Cup experience this season and who takes over from Gordon in the No. 24, is himself the son of former champion Bill Elliott. By the way, Elliott won that race, 23 years ago, that saw both Petty and Gordon on the track together.

    Like in all families, we have had to say goodbye to loved ones over the years, like Lee and Adam Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Davey Allison, Buck Baker and, earlier this year, his son Buddy. Like in all families, roles change over time. This off-season team owner Richard Petty will be searching for a new driver for one of his teams, Jeff Gordon prepares to enter the FOX broadcast booth in February, joining Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip’s brother Michael closes his race team, Chase Elliott prepares to build on his family’s Hall of Fame legacy, while Kyle Busch, like his brother before him, becomes the face of the sport as its latest champion.

  • NASCAR Champions Featuring Buck Baker

    NASCAR Champions Featuring Buck Baker

    Cup Champion 1956 and 1957
    March 4, 1919 – April 14, 2002
    Hometown: Charlotte, NC
    Career: 1949-1976

    Elzie Wylie “Buck” Baker was one of the most dominant drivers in NASCAR during the 1950s. He quickly rose to the top by becoming the first driver to win consecutive Sprint Cup Championships in 1956 and 1957. Baker also had two runner-up seasons in 1955 and 1958.

    His strategy was a mixture of determination and the belief that he was capable of winning any race. It didn’t hurt that Baker had a natural talent that cannot be taught.

    “You can’t let anyone think you’re not going to win a race,” he said during the interview. “If you talk yourself out of believing you are a winner, then you might as well stay in the pits and let someone else do the driving.

    “There were times we left home without money to buy new tires. We didn’t know where the money was coming from. Heck, there’s times we didn’t have money to put gas in the truck to get to the track.

    “But someone always came through for what we needed. We always could have used more and better equipment, but I’m talking about don’t let yourself believe you can’t be a winner.”

    Baker was known as a hard charger both on and off the track. His competitors knew that too much beating and banging on the track would be dealt with in the pits after the race.

    “My dad won his share of races on the track,” said Baker’s son, Buddy, “but I don’t think he ever lost a battle in the pits.”

    Baker’s first championship was won while driving for Carl Kiekhaefer, owner of the first mulit-car team in NASCAR. His second championship was won while driving his own cars.

    In 636 starts, he won 46 times including three wins at the historic Southern 500 at Darlington Speedway. Baker’s career victory total of 46 ranks 15th all-time.

    Baker was also known as one of the most versatile racers of his time. He won races in NASCAR’s Modified, Speedway and Grand American series.

    After retiring from NASCAR, he opened the Buck Baker Driving School in 1980. Many of today’s top drivers have attended his school including Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Ward Burton and Tony Stewart.

    In 1998 Buck Baker was named as one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers and in 2013 he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 83.

    Buddy Baker is proud of the talent and tenacity that his father demonstrated in racing and in life.

    “He could do things in a race car I could only dream about,” he said. “Throughout the entire racing world, I don’t know of anybody who would have said he didn’t give 110% from the time they dropped the green flag until the race was over. He was the same way in life, too.”

    Accomplishments:

    1982 – Inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame
    1990 – Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
    1998 – Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
    1998 – Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers
    2010 – Nominee to the NASCAR Hall of Fame
    2011 – Nominee to the NASCAR Hall of Fame
    2012 – Nominee to the NASCAR Hall of Fame
    2013 – Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame

     

  • Love of Car Inspired Newest NASCAR Novel ‘Race From the Finish’

    Love of Car Inspired Newest NASCAR Novel ‘Race From the Finish’

    While there has been a great deal of talk about the Gen 6 race car, with NASCAR banking on fans falling in love with the newly branded stock cars, an historical love affair with a car, in this case a 1956 Chevy Bel Air Sport Coupe, inspired a new NASCAR book entitled ‘Race from the Finish’.

    The book, written by D.T. Dignan, is about a 1950s fictional racer John Powers who had one dream, to break into the big time in the burgeoning sport of NASCAR. In the novel, Powers cuts his racing teeth on the many new dirt tracks around his hometown of Pittsburgh, moving into the Midwest Associate of Race Cars new circuit, the precursor of today’s ARCA racing series, and ultimately into NASCAR

    Dignan acknowledged that the new Gen 6 NASCAR race car really is a throwback to racing of old, particularly during the time when her book is set. And, just like in the book, the point of racing cars on the track was to sell them in the show room the following week.

    “I think the new car is more true to stock car racing in the days of the book,” Dignan said. “I think that’s interesting to see.”

    “Back then, much of it was a marketing thing as the car companies realized that it would sell more cars after every race.”

    For Dignan, her inspiration for her book was all about the car. In fact, the car on which the story was based, a 1965 Chevy Bel Air, had personal, as well as professional, meaning to her.

    “My dad had a 1956 Chevy Bel Air and he courted my mother in that car,” Dignan said. “I always thought it would be so fun to own one.”

    “About ten years ago, I came across this car and bought it,” Dignan continued. “I did it because I wanted to drive it and show my dad and take him for rides in it, which he’s been able to do.”

    “We participated in different car shows and I notice so many people drawn to her and you can tell they are just remembering,” Dignan said. “That’s why I wanted the 1956 car to be in the climax of the story.”

    So, how did the car, which held so many memories, become inspiration enough for an entire novel about racing from back in the day and back in time?

    “At that time the 1956 Bel Air had quite a powerful engine and so came onto the racing circuit,” Dignan said. “So, I imagined what it would be like to have that car race and the type of person that might strive for that and want to race that car.”

    “Suddenly, I had an idea for a story and that’s how the main character was born,” Dignan continued. “I had a lot of fun doing quite a bit of research on historic racing and the different tracks around the area, especially in the Pittsburgh area where the story is set.”

    “There were a lot of new tracks coming up because it was becoming quite popular to see folks get into racing,” Dignan said. “The book basically deals with historic racing.”

    “It’s more character driven but there’s quite a bit of history in it concerning NASCAR, especially in the 1950s.”

    Dignan had to do all kinds of research, both in libraries and on-line, in order to bring her book and characters to life. She also did some research right in her home state of Michigan, including seeing some of the old race cars from the past.

    “I found books about racing and I also did research on line and also found some of the old racers and their videos back in the day,” Dignan said. “That was fascinating to watch those cars go around the dirt tracks, with the racing and the accidents they had.”

    “I had to do that to explain what would happen to the driver during the race and to explain the movement of the cars in written form,” Dignan continued. “I wanted to have the reader picture the race in their mind and I had to watch video of actual footage to see what it was like.”

    “Basically, I did every type of research you could find,” Dignan said. “We have some historical racing information here in Michigan.”

    “In fact, we have an actual Hudson Hornet here so I went to check that out,” Dignan continued. “Buck Baker’s car is in Greenfield Village so there are a lot of different resources to tap into.”

    Dignan’s research would not have been complete, however, without a visit to a modern-day race track. So, off she went to Michigan International Speedway to experience the thrill of NASCAR racing up close and personal.

    “I actually experienced my first NASCAR race here in Michigan studying for the book,” Dignan said. “It was incredible.”

    “There was one interesting moment when we went under the grandstand and you could get up next to the fence next to the track,” Dignan continued. “You’re basically eye level with the wheels.”

    “That was pretty intense as you watched them zip by with all that power and speed,” Dignan said. “So, I developed a knowledge and appreciation for racing because of the research for the book.”

    So, is her fictional driver John Powers patterned after any of the drivers, past or present, which she encountered during her research?

    “I’m sure that there is a little bit of several different drivers in him just from watching the footage and being at the track,” Dignan said. “But he’s more my own creation.”

    “Actually the character develops over time as driving is his sole passion, to the point where it becomes at the expense of other things and people,” Dignan continued. “The climax of the story is that you see that in a race at Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, which was an actual race.”

    “It was the only NASCAR race on that track in 1956 and Buck Baker won the race,” Dignan said. “That’s kind of interesting because I wanted to have the ’56 Chevy be the car he was driving at the climax of the story, so I had to work the whole timing of the story around that.”

    “And it just so happened that the race took place three hours from Pittsburgh where he hails from,” Dignan continued. “That was the only NASCAR race at that track that ever happened in that year.”

    Dignan, a most passionate author, is convinced that NASCAR fans today would really enjoy her story about NASCAR racing in the past. In fact, she thinks it would give fans a whole new perspective on the history of the sport.

    “I think they would enjoy it because it would give them a little bit different perspective about racing from an historical standpoint, when it was newer and very different,” Dignan said. “I think for them to realize what these guys did and went through to pursue their racing dreams would give them a whole new appreciation.”

    “They didn’t have driving schools back then,” Dignan continued. “They didn’t have big sponsors back then.”

    “Basically the guys had to teach themselves,” Dignan said. “They had to have support and a lot of guts.”

    “They had to work hard to get money to support their racing careers,” Dignan continued. “I think fans would find that interesting.”

    Race fans interested in reading ‘Race From the Finish’ can order it from Barnes and Noble or Amazon, however, it can also be ordered from her website www.racefromthefinish.com. An added bonus is if fans order the book from her website, Dignan will personally sign it.

     

  • Surprising and Not Surprising: Auto Club 400

    Surprising and Not Surprising: Auto Club 400

    [media-credit name=”Simon Scoggins” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]While sunny during pre-race activities, weather came in and played a prominent role at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Here is what was surprising and not surprising in the 16th annual, but first ever rain-shortened, running of the Auto Club 400.

    Surprising:  While the race was caution free until the predicted rain appeared, the most surprising issue, other than weather, affecting the racing was that of problems on pit road. Even with the shortened number of laps run, there were five pit road speeding penalties, including Regan Smith, Joey Logano, Bobby Labonte, Brad Keselowski, and J.J. Yeley.

    Other penalties were doled out to Jamie McMurray, driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shop/Allstate Chevrolet for a lug nut violation and Matt Kenseth, behind the wheel of the No. 17 Ford EcoBoost Ford, who had to go to the tail end due to a team member not being in contact with the outside tires.

    The most costly errors on pit road, however, occurred for four-time champion Jeff Gordon and his No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet crew. Gordon had two penalties; one on lap 107 for removing equipment, including the gas can man himself, from the pit stall and the second one on lap 126 for a tire rolling beyond the center of pit road.

    “It was just not our day on pit road,” Gordon said simply.

    Not Surprising: It was not surprising that the reigning champ proved that age 40 is just about the perfect time to peak in NASCAR racing.

    Tony Stewart, behind the wheel of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, scored his 46th victory, tying Buck Baker for 14th on the all-time Cup Series win list.

    This was Smoke’s second victory in the first five races of the 2012 season. This was his second victory and 12th top-10 finish in 21 races at Auto Club Speedway.

    “I mean you hate to have them end with rain like that,” Stewart said. “But I’ve lost some that way. The good thing is we didn’t back into the lead because we stayed out, the leaders came in.”

    “I mean, we were leading the thing and had earned that spot,” Stewart continued. “I’m proud of that.”

    Surprising:  Usually somewhat morose after a race, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. surprisingly deemed himself “pretty happy.” The driver of the No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet finished third in the race and moved up to third in the point standings as well.

    This was Junior’s fifth top-10 finish in 20 races at Auto Club Speedway.

    “We had a really good car,” Dale Junior said. “I was really happy about that.”

    “We drove the car up to fifth before the weather came,” Junior continued. “We made the right choice by staying out and building ourselves into the top three.”

    Not Surprising:  On a day when the driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota led laps, clipped the wall, and then had to work his way back up front, it was not surprising to see Kyle Busch score the runner up spot.

    This was Busch’s 10th top-10 finish in 15 races at the Fontana track. It was also his second top-10 finish in the 2012 season.

    ‘I wish we would have been able to race the whole thing on one hand, but on the other hand I’m kind of glad we’re not because we kind of had a little bit of damage that slowed us down there,” Busch said. “All in all, it was a really good day.”

    Surprising:  It was a bit surprising that the driver who not only finished sixth in the race, but kept the points lead too, just was not all that pleased at the end of the race festivities.

    “I like this track but the last few times here, we’ve been off just a tick,” Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford, said. “Today, I didn’t keep up with the track.”

    “I was a little bit too tight.”

    Not Surprising:   As so often happens, it was not surprising that the pole sitter did not win the race. In this case, pole sitter Denny Hamlin was well positioned to do so, however, pitted prior to the rain, which relegated him to an 11th place finish.

    “We were planning on the race going back to green,” the driver of the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota said. “We had finally gotten to Stewart’s bumper when the rain came.”

    Surprising:  Granted, the race was rain-shortened, however, it was still surprising to see Kurt Busch in his new No. 51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet score a top-10 finish, the best of the season for both the driver and his team.

    “This just goes to show what results when you are smart all day,” Busch said. “The car’s going back onto the trailer without a scratch on it.”

    “That’s a first for us this year.”

    Not Surprising:  Martin Truex, Jr., to no one’s surprise, continued flying the flag for Michael Waltrip Racing with another good run. The driver of the No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota finished eighth and is now sixth in the point standings.

    “Overall, it was a decent day,” Truex, Jr. said. “This place was really tough on us last year.”

    “It’s nice to come in here and have a decent run – something we can build on.”

    Surprising:  It was a bit surprising that the driver known as ‘The Closer’ did not seal the deal at the Auto Club Speedway. The driver of the No. 29 Jimmie John’s Gourmet Sandwiches Chevrolet finished fourth and is just seven points behind the points leader in the standings.

    “All in all, the guys on the Jimmy John’s Chevrolet did a pretty good job,” Harvick said. “We will just keep working away.”

    Not Surprising:  Jimmie Johnson, not surprisingly, seems to be well on his way to living up to his Twitter moniker of ‘Six Pack.’ After a successful appeal that restored his points and kept his crew and car chiefs intact, Johnson survived an oil leak to finish top-10 in the No. 48 Lowe’s/Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet.

    “Something happened and we developed an oil leak,” Chad Knaus, Johnson’s crew chief, said. “But the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevy ran well today.”

    “We were really happy with the performance.”

     

  • Countdown to Daytona: 86 (and 97)

    Countdown to Daytona: 86 (and 97)

    [media-credit name=”Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”aligncenter” width=”405″][/media-credit]As we continue the countdown to Daytona, we’ll look at the brief history of number 86, and then take a look at a second number—97—that didn’t get covered due to it being a higher number.

    The number 86 has seen little use in comparison to some others—making just 320 appearances since 1949. The number 86 was first used in the 1949 race at Langhorne Speedway. Featuring 45 cars on a 1 mile dirt track, Harvey Hillgas, in his only Sprint Cup start raced his ’49 Ford to a 25th place finish.

    As the theme has been the last few days, Buck Baker was the first to win (and only) driver to win using the number 86. That win came in 1961 at Hartsville Speedway, a .333 mile dirt track in Hartsville, South Carolina.

    Other drivers using the number 86 included son Buddy, Neil “Soapy” Castles, Tiny Lund, John Sears, and road racer Elliott-Forbes Robinson. The last time the number 86 saw use was 1993 by West coast driver Rich Woodland Jr., who entered the 1993 Slick 50 500 at Phoenix. The number has sat dormant since then.  In total the number 86 has one win, 6 poles, 31 top-five and 78 top-ten finishes.

    In comparison, the number 97 has had more than double the starts at 684. Drivers have sat on the pole eight times with this car number and accounted for 17 victories, 74 top-five finishes and 182 in the top ten.

    The most successful driver of no. 97 is undoubtedly Kurt Busch. In the midst of a strong 2000 campaign in the Camping World Truck Series, Busch replaced a struggling Chad Little for the final seven races of the 2000 season in preparation for a run at Rookie of the Year honors in 2001. Busch would finish runner-up to Kevin Harvick in that category, in a somewhat disappointing season that resulted in just six top-ten finishes.

    However, Busch returned with thunder in 2002, winning four races and placing third in the season-end tally; a 24 position improvement from the previous year. Busch won a total of 14 races and the 2004 championship for owner Jack Roush.

    Bill Amick, a driver from Oregon was the first driver to win in car no. 97, beating 30 other drivers to win a 199-lap affair at Sacramento’s Capital Speedway in 1957. That win would be Amick’s only victory in NASCAR’s top series. Amick found his greatest success winning the 1965 championship in what was then the Pacific Coast Grand National Series; a series that evolved into the K&N Pro Series West division.

    The only other driver to win in car no. 97 is a name many don’t immediately associate with NASCAR—Parnelli Jones. Jones won a total of four races in just 34 starts at NASCAR’s highest level, including two driving car 97. One of the victories was a brutal 500-lap (shortened to 487 due to rain) affair at the legendary Ascot Park in 1958; the other at the California State Fairgrounds a year prior. Jones would go on to win the 1963 Indianapolis 500 as a driver, as well as the 1970 and 1971 races with Al Unser as the driver. Amick and Jones were both initial inductees into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2002.

    Other notable drivers of no. 97 include Chad Little, the current competition director of NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Series, long-term independent Henley Gray, Red Farmer, Geoffrey Bodine, and 1990 Nationwide champion Chuck Bown.

    Bodine’s (and substitute driver Tommy Ellis) stint in number 97 came about when his Junior Johnson car was found to have an oversized engine in the 1991 All-Star race. NASCAR slapped the team with a four-race suspension, including crew chief Tim Brewer. To keep his drivers eligible, Johnson changed the car number to 97 and listed his wife Flossie as the car owner.

    The most recent driver is Kevin Conway, who made three starts (and four laps) for owner Joe Nemechek at the plate tracks this season.

  • Coutndown to Daytona: 87

    Coutndown to Daytona: 87

    [media-credit name=”Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”aligncenter” width=”300″][/media-credit]While the drivers and teams continuing celebrating in Las Vegas, we continue counting down to the 2012 Daytona 500, which is just 87 days away.

    NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Buck Baker was the first driver to use no. 87; using it in NASCAR’s very first race in 1949 at the .750 mile Charlotte Speedway. Baker finished 11th in that race for a payday of $50. Baker used the number in 419 of his 635 starts and accounts for 26 of the 27 wins with the number. The other driver to win using no. 87 is Jim Paschal. Buddy Baker, one of Buck’s sons would use it in 38 starts. Buck would later use the number for son Randy, who made a handful of appearances in the 1980s and 1990s.

    Only nine drivers have made five or more starts in car #87

    Baker would later launch the Buck Baker Racing School in 1980, whose students include Sprint Cup champions Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, along with Ryan Newman.

    Beginning in 1993, the number became associated with Joe Nemechek, and has been ever since. Nemechek’s first start came in the initial Sprint Cup race at Loudon; a race he was joined in by fellow Nationwide competitor Jeff Burton. Both would move up to the Cup ranks the following season.

    After a one year stint with Larry Hedrick in 1994, Nemechek returned to driving his own cars in 1995 with sponsorship from Burger King. This arrangement lasted for two seasons before he left to drive for Felix Sabates.

    Nemechek ran the number a few times in the late-90s for road course ringer Ron Fellows. Fellows rang up an impressive runner-up finish to Jeff Gordon in the 1999 Frontier @ the Glen.

    In 2009, Nemechek returned to running his own cars; the majority of the time, unsponsored. On a limited budget, Nemechek was the only team outside the top 35 in points to qualify for every race in the 2011 season.

    The number 87 has made a total of 713 starts. In those starts, no. 87 has netted 27 wins, 26 poles, 186 top-five and 285 top-ten finishes.

  • Countdown to Daytona: 88

    Countdown to Daytona: 88

    The number 88 has an impressive history in NASCAR and a who’s-who list of drivers and owners whose cars have been adorned with the number.

    [media-credit name=”Ted Van Pelt” align=”alignright” width=”241″][/media-credit]As was the case with no. 89, car no. 88 made its debut at Langhorne in 1949 with Pepper Cunningham of Trenton, New Jersey behind the wheel. Cunningham finished 33rd in his debut after wrecking his ’49 Lincoln. Cunningham would only compete in nine other races (he failed to start a 10th), and just one other using number 88. That start would result in his career best finish of sixth, coming at Langhorne.

    The first win for car no. 88 came in 1954. Tim Flock would have had that honor, but his ’54 Oldsmobile was disqualified, handing the win to Lee Petty. Buck Baker would win later that season at Wilson Speedway in Wilson, North Carolina for the first of 66 wins for no. 88. Baker would win two other times using no. 88—later in 1954 at Morristown Speedway in New Jersey and five years later at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Other notable drivers using the number include Neil “Soapy” Castles, Fireball Roberts (just two races), Tiny Lund, and Banjo Matthews.

    In 1973, a little-known team called DiGard showed up at Dover with driver Donnie Allison. Comprised of Bill Gardner and Mike DiProspero, the team finished a disappointing 38th after the engine failed after just 18 laps. However, the stage was set for a run that spanned 14 years.

    Allison ran the first two seasons for DiGard and 10 races in 1975. After the Pocono race, DiGard dropped Allison for a cocky young kid named Darrell Waltrip. Outside of five races for Bud Moore, Waltrip had driven his own equipment in every other start, winning once at the old Nashville Fairgrounds. Waltrip won once in 1975 for DiGard at Richmond; the first for no. 88 in 16 years.

    Gatorade joined the team the following season for a five-year run with Waltrip in which he won 25 more races. It was during his time in car no. 88 that Waltrip earned his now-famous moniker of “Jaws”, a name given to him by rival driver Cale Yarborough.

    Waltrip bought out his contract in 1980 to drive for Junior Johnson, a move that was unheard of at the time. DiGard would replace Waltrip with Ricky Rudd. Rudd didn’t win in his one season with DiGard and he left for Richard Childress Racing.

    Bobby Allison replaced Rudd in 1982 and responded with eight wins, 20 top-ten finishes, and a runner-up finish in the points. Miller replaced Gatorade for ’83 and DiGard switched their number to 22. Gatorade and the number 88 moved to Cliff Stewart’s Pontiacs and driver Geoff Bodine. When Bodine left for Hendrick Motorsports the following season, Stewart signed Rusty Wallace, who won the ASA championship in 1983. Wallace won Rookie of the Year in 1984, besting a class including Phil Parsons, Greg Sacks, Doug Heveron, and Clark Dwyer.  In 1985, Gatorade left and was replaced by Alugard Antifreeze.

    [media-credit name=”Ted Van Pelt” align=”alignright” width=”239″][/media-credit]Buddy Baker took over car no. 88 in a car co-owned by himself and Danny Schiff. According to Sports Illustrated, Schiff was the CEO of Bull Frog Knits, a children’s apparel company. Baker had first used the number in 1959 in a race at the Southern States Fairgrounds; dad Buck used no. 87.  The partnership lasted four seasons, with Baker driving the majority. Morgan Shepherd filled in for Baker in 1988, along with Rick Mast, who made his Sprint Cup debut in the car.Greg Sacks started 1989 in Bakers’ Crisco-backed machine, but was replaced by Berwick, Pennsylvania’s Jimmy Spencer. Spencer earned three top-ten finishes in the ride. Following the 1989 season, the team closed its doors.

    The number 88 saw sporadic use the next five seasons; Larry Pearson used the number in a one-off in 1990. Baker used the no. 88 twice more in 1991 and Jeff Fuller made his debut using the number in 1992.

    Robert Yates, who had built engines for DiGard resurrected the number 88 in 1995 for Ernie Irvan’s triumphant return from a traumatic head injury—an injury Irvan had sustained the previous year at Michigan International Speedway. Given just a 10% chance to survive, Irvan overcame the odds and was back in a Sprint Cup car just 14 months later. Irvan finished sixth in his return, besting teammate Dale Jarrett by one position. The following season, Irvan returned to the 28 car and Jarrett was moved to the 88 with new sponsor Ford Quality Care.

    In his first race, Jarrett won the 1996 Daytona 500, beginning an association with the number that spanned 11 years. In those 11 years, Jarrett won a total of 28 races and the 2000 championship. Jarrett’s final win came in car no. 88 at Talladega in 2005, beating Tony Stewart back to the flag. After Jarrett left for Michael Waltrip Racing, his vacancy filled with Ricky Rudd.

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    Rudd retired after the 2007 season, and Yates retired the number after the 2007 season, giving it to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnhardt’s grandfather Ralph had used the number 50 years prior.

    Earnhardt’s well-documented drought has been in car no. 88; his last win coming in June 2008 at Michigan.In total, the number 88 has netted 55 poles, 66 wins, and 568 top-ten finishes in its 1,419 starts; which ranks seventh overall.

  • Countdown to Daytona: 89

    Countdown to Daytona: 89

    89 days remain until they fire the engines at Daytona, so the focus today is on a number that has seen scarce use compared to others in NASCAR’s top series. Car no. 89 has only been used in 266 races. By comparison, number 43 has been used 1,809 times and the second-most frequently used number, 11 have started 1,735 Sprint Cup races.

    Shepherd Racing Venture/Rick Adkins

    Al Keller led things off at the treacherous Langhorn Speedway in 1949; NASCAR’s fourth ever race. Keller drove his ’49 Ford to an eighth place finish after starting 22nd. Keller made a total of 29 Sprint Cup starts, but only used the number 89 two other times. A host of NASCAR legends used the number 89, including 1952 champion Tim Flock, Buck Baker, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker, and the first African American driver to win a race, Wendell Scott.

    Buck Baker was the first to win in car 89; that win came in 1952 at Columbia Speedway in Columbia, South Carolina. Baker also won in car no. 89 three years later at the .750 mile Charlotte Speedway. Baker made a total of 635 starts, winning 46 races and two championships. Baker will be featured in the coming days in upcoming articles.

    The number 89 has two notable wins. The first was when Buddy Shuman won the only points-paying Cup race to date outside the United States later in 1952. That win came at Stamford Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Shuman’s victory was his only win in 29 starts. NASCAR hasn’t journeyed outside the country since for a points race.

    The other notable victory came for driver Joe Lee Johnson, winner of the first World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Johnson bested Johnny Beauchamp by four laps to take the victory and a $27,150 payday. Adjusted for inflation, that figure would be $197,599.65.

    Beginning in 1983, the no. 89 became most associated with the Mueller Brothers Racing Team and their Evinrude Outboards backed cars. Based out of Wisconsin, the Mueller Brothers used drivers from the Midwest, many from the ASA ranks. Their first driver was Dean Roper, a three-time USAC national stock car champion.  Jim Sauter, father of Jay, Johnny, and Tim drove the majority of the races from 1985-1993, with Rodney Combs driving the car in 1989. Sauter had limited success in the partial schedule the Meuller Bros. ran; his best finish was a 10th in the wreck-strewn 1987 Oakwood Homes 500.

    Female driver Patty Moise made her first Sprint Cup start in 1987 in a car prepared by Marc Reno and Ernie Irvan at Watkins Glen. Moise crashed her no. 89 butter-flavored Crisco machine and made just four more Cup starts before transferring over to the Nationwide Series.

    The Mueller Bros. last start came in 1993 at Michigan. They tried to run a partial schedule in 1994 with Sauter, but failed to qualify for a race that year. The Mueller Bros. returned for a partial schedule in 1996 in the Camping World Truck Series, but used the numbers 4 and 42. Their two drivers were current Roush-Fenway racing GM Robby Reiser and 2011 Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart.

    Aside from a one-off by Dennis Setzer in 1998 at Talladega, the only other driver to use no. 89 in the last decade is the venerable Morgan Shepherd. Shepherd made 32 starts from 2002-2006 before moving his team to the Nationwide Series, where he continues to use the number to this day.

    In total, car no. 89 has scored a total of three poles, four wins, 18 top-fives and 58 top tens.